Aktivnosti UNESCO-a u uređivanju oblasti medija

Author(s): Amila Grbo / Language(s): Bosnian / Issue: 80/81/2018

The United Nations are in the mission and function of achieving peace and freedom, especially in societies that are moving through the process of democratization and respect for the truth, freedom of expression and affirmation of human rights and freedoms. They continuously create and adopt various documents - declarations, resolutions, recommendations, etc., that oblige member states to respect and apply the regulations that make the content of these documents. This in fact ensures the development of the world community, oblige non-democratic regimes to respect the prescribed standards, and ensures the protection of peace and freedom. In this way, United Nations not only encourage states to maintain peace and cooperation and to reject conflicts within a state, but also between different countries, and also influence the development of consciousness that primarily contributes to achieving or preserving peace and democracy. In this text, in fact, exactly these activities of the United Nations in construction of the binding regulation will be discussed.

Aktualna reforma penzijskog sistema u Federaciji Bosne i Hercegovine: šta donosi novi Zakon o penzijskom i invalidskom osiguranju?

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): Bosnian / Publication Year: 2018

The application of the earlier Pension and Disability Insurance Act caused constant losses that resulted in a high deficit in the Pension and Disability Insurance Institute. This finally raised serious questions about the pension system solvency in FB&H, pension adequacy and regular pension payments. In addition, bad economic and demographic situation, decline in working-age population, emigration of the young working class population etc. are just some of the reasons that also indicated the need for pension system reform in FB&H. This paper deals with the current reform of the pension system in FB&H through the analysis of the recently adopted Pension and Disability Insurance Act and the novelties introduced by it. Special emphasis is given to the provisions containing the elements of unlawful discrimination as well as unconstitutionality. As such, these provisions are contrary to the European and regional trends, the international conventions and to the Constitution of FB&H. As an obvious example of unlawful discrimination the paper particularly stresses the provision denying unmarried partners’ access to the survivor's pension. Also, the provision suspending the pension payments to one group of pensioners represents a violation of the right to property guaranteed by the FB&H Constitution and as such could be used as the basis for initiating a procedure for assessing its constitutionality. The analysis of the disputed provisions of the Pension and Disability Insurance Act points to their discriminatory and unconstitutional character and to the need for their amendment in order for FB&H to follow the European path and comply with the constitutionally accepted obligations with regard to the international conventions.

Aktuálne tendencie ochrany náboženskej slobody v judikatúre Európskeho súdu pre ľudské práva

Author(s): Martin Gregor / Language(s): Slovak / Issue: 73-4/2018

The article analyses recent decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on protection of religious freedom and integrates them into the wider context of case law development. It deals with several judgments that have affected the registration of new religious communities. Following these judgments, a state may refuse to register a religious entity only for serious and sufficient reasons, otherwise there may be a breach of Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The article also highlights current developments concerning the wearing of clothing motivated by individuals’ religious beliefs.

Aktywność Polski w przestrzeni kosmicznej – nauka, polityka i prawo. Stan obecny

Author(s): Malgorzata Polkowska,Jakub Ryzenko / Language(s): Polish / Issue: XXXVI/2016

The article concerns the activity undertaken by Poland in space - from the Copernican revolution to modern times. The Authors present a number of innovative measures which have been undertaken in the Polish cosmic thought for the last 20-30 years. The real achievement of Poland is the creation of several research centers, several research groups at universities and dozens of small and medium-sized enterprises. They, in turn, realize projects related to the techniques of satellite and space technologies. The Authors also present Polish international cooperation in the field of space activities, with a particular attention to the Polish membership in the European Space Agency, and refer to the creation of Poland’s first space agency in 2014 and the need to formulate law, strategy and Polish space policy following the example of other European countries. The agency faces many challenges and expectations concerning, among others, such issues as the promotion of cooperation between science and industry, the provision of greater access to international space programs for Polish entrepreneurs engaged in space activities which is proved to be profitable or the creation of a national space program.

Aktywność Unii Europejskiej na rzecz bezpieczeństwa i obrony. Analiza w świetle teorii instytucjonalizmu historycznego

Author(s): Zbigniew Czachór / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 4/2018

In situations of real danger, Europe should be stronger and faster in action. Solidarity and resilience require the EU to be united and to act jointly and systematically in consultation with allies, partners and third countries. Preventing, sharing sensitive data, ending armed conflict, overcoming widespread human rights violations, spreading democracy and the rule of law, and combating terrorism are priorities of the EU and its citizens, and should be carried out both within the EU and abroad. It is extremely important to make rapid further progress in the development of civilian capabilities. This includes the need to increase responsiveness to ensure more efficient, faster and more flexible deployment of civilian missions in the field of the Common Security and Defense Policy, which are key as one of the pillars of the EU’s comprehensive approach.

Alexandra Mihalcea, Romania

Author(s): Alexandra Mihalcea / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

Dear conference participants, It is not easy for the speaker to make the presentation before such an overwhelmingly important and prestigious audience. Moreover, it is quite certain that most of the issues treated in the presentation itself are to be debated fundamentally in previous contributions. (At the time of the presentation, on Friday – 26 February, this will be a “fait accomplit”). When, between July and December 1999, I experienced international justice for the first time (and still the last time, at present), being close to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, little did I imagine that ten years after I would officially link this close encounter to one of the most dramatic and painful efforts of my own people in the course of its history: the fight against communism.

All’s wrong that starts wrong – withdrawals from the International Criminal Court

Author(s): Tamás Lattmann / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2017

The Hague-based International Criminal Court, the world’s first permanent judicial forum, created in 1998 by the adoption of the Rome Statute, has been living difficult times during the past months. After years of struggle since its operations have started in 2002, the second half of 2016 has brought withdrawals, threats for withdrawals, and even a visibly collective strategy for a mass withdrawal of African states from the system. What keeps states in a similar structure, what makes them seriously consider a withdrawal, and what is the possible future of the International Criminal Court (ICC)?

Alternative dispute resolution in art-related cases

Author(s): Paulina Gwozdziewicz-Matan / Language(s): English / Issue: 22/2018

One of the features of so called “art cases” is that the solutions are rarely black and white, therefore conventional remedies such as damages are often not adequate. Choosing alternative methods, widely recommended by international organizations, permits parties to reach creative non monetary solutions. The article aims at discussing how non-judicial methods are used in art cases and whether they are better for solving art related disputes. The first part of this article describes the methods that are used in particular cases, the formation of ADR clauses and also refers to the institutional rules of conduct. The second part lists the arguments for using ADR methods in art cases.

Alternativni izvještaj o primjeni Okvirne konvencije za zaštitu nacionalnih manjina

Author(s): Ljubomir Mikic / Language(s): English,Croatian / Publication Year: 2015

The Serb National Council (SNC), a national coordination of councils of Serb national minority representatives, is an elected political, advisory and coordination entity that operates as a self-government of Serbs in the Republic of Croatia. The SNC is engaged with the protection and promotion of Serbs’ human, civil and ethnic rights, and issues of their identity, participation and integration into Croatian society.The SNC was founded per the Erdut Agreement and the Letter of the Croatian Government about the completion of peaceful reintegration, which guarantees the Serb minority self-government as well as the right to organise as based upon the centuries old tradition of Serb self-government: from church/popular parliaments, to legislative and political acts which regulated the position of Serbs in the 13th and 14th century, to the documents of the National Antifascist Council. It was established in 1997, in Zagreb, at the initiative of the Alliance of Serb Organisations (SKD Prosvjeta, Serb Democratic Forum, Community of Rijeka and Istria Serbs and Joint Council of Municipalities) and among the founders were also the Idependent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) , Baranja Democratic Forum, Association of refugee and displaced Serbs, representatives of parts of the Serb Orthodox Church (SPC) church municipalities, members of parliament and prominent individuals.

Alternativni izvještaj za BiH 2016: Politički kriteriji

Author(s): Andela Pepic,Borka Rudic,Dragana Dardic,Dražana Lepir,Leila Bicakcic,Mirsada Bajramovic,Miroslav Živanovic,Nataša Maros,Nedim Jahic,Paulina Janusz,Rasim Ibrahimagic,Selma Korjenic,Saša Gavric,Snježana Ivandic Ninkovic,Sunita Dautbegovic-Bošnjakovic,Vladana Vasic / Language(s): Bosnian / Issue: 23/2016

Usvojiti amandmane na Ustav BiH i ostale ustave u BiH kojima se ukida etnička diskriminacija i pružaju jednaka politička prava svim građanima/kama; - Ugraditi u Ustav BiH definiciju ravnopravnosti između žena i muškaraca i zabranu direktne i indirektne diskriminacije žena u javnoj i privatnoj sferi; - Dijalog o ustavnim reformama voditi isključivo u institucionalnom okviru, transparentno i uz učešće zainteresovane javnosti, ekspertske zajednice i civilnog društva. Zaustaviti praksu donošenja zakona u hitnoj proceduri, naročito sistemskih zakona, te onih koji imaju značajan uticaj na život građana/ki u BiH; - Zaustaviti praksu kršenja zakonskih procedura u parlamentarnim procesima. Procese od značaja za javnost voditi transparentno i uz učešće zainteresovane javnosti na svim nivoima vlasti u BiH, uz poštovanje socijalnog dijaloga i demokratske prakse. Kroz donošenje zakona jačati nezavisnost Ustavnog suda BiH; - Uskladiti Poslovnik o radu Ustavnog suda Republike Srpske sa Ustavom BiH; - Sudije/sutkinje ustavnih sudova imenovati u propisanim rokovima, na transparentan i formalno-pravno ispravan način, bez političkih blokada; - Formalno utvrditi odgovornost Vijeća ministara BiH da nadzire i sprovodi odluke iz apelacionih nadležnosti Ustavnog suda BiH. U transparentnoj i demokratskoj proceduri usvojiti izmjene Izbornog zakona BiH, koje će omogućiti provođenje lokalnih izbora u gradu Mostaru. Radi unapređenja efikasnosti rada Institucije otkloniti preklapanje u obavljanju poslova između ombudsmena, te uvesti struktuiranu podjelu rada unutar Institucije; - Pri usvajanju novog zakona o ombudsmanu za ljudska prava BiH strogo ispoštovati preporuke Međunarodnog koordinacionog komiteta i Venecijanske komisije. Raditi na dosljednoj primjeni postojećeg Sporazuma za saradnju organizacija civilnog društva i institucija na nivou BiH, te uspostavi sličnih mehanizama na entitetskom nivou; - Implementirati transparentne i inkluzivne mehanizme za javne konsultacije s organizacijama civilnog društva na svim nivoima vlasti; - Usvojiti strategiju za razvoj civilnog društva na državnom i entitetskim nivoima, uz konkretne mjere koje će uključiti sistematsko finansiranje kroz odgovarajuće fondove i uključivanje civilnog društva u proces izrade i donošenja javnih politika i zakona. Uspostaviti novi strateški okvir za nastavak reformskog procesa u skladu sa najboljim praksama participativnih procesa, uz konsultacije sa organizacijama civilnog društva, ekspertskom i akademskom zajednicom; - Uključiti javnost i zainteresovane strane u sve zakonodavne inicijative u oblasti javne uprave, uz adekvatne konsultacije, javne rasprave i analize procjena učinka, te pravovremeno i adekvatno obavještavati javnost o ovim procesima. Hitno usvojiti Akcioni plan za Strategiju reforme sektora pravde u BiH, ubrzati rad institucija na ispunjenju obaveza koje su uzrokovane dosadašnjim kašnjenjem, te definirati odgovornost institucija za neispunjenje obaveza preuzetih ovim dokumentom; - Ažurirati postojeći Pravilnik o sukobu interesa članova Visokog sudskog i tužilačkog vijeća BiH (uvođenje pravila o kontroli i provjeri imovinskih kartona članova VSTV-a BiH, ali i ostalih sudija/ sutkinja i tužilaca/ teljica), te izrada smjernica o sukobu interesa za cijelo pravosuđe. Hitno ojačati odredbe Zakona o sukobu interesa i uvesti nezavisno tijelo za nadzor nad njegovim provođenjem (proširivanje komisije uključivanjem predstavnika/ca civilnog društva, ili uključivanje jednakog broja predstavnika/ ca pozicijskih i opozicijskih stranaka); - Podići nivo provjere i uvesti novčane sankcije za netačne prijave imovinskih kartona imenovanih zvaničnika/ca Centralnoj izbornoj komisiji BiH. Hitno postići politički dogovor između Vijeća ministara BiH i entiteta da bi se pristupilo izradi, a zatim i provedbi strategije za ljudska prava i osnovne slobode BiH. Na adekvatan način riješiti pitanje osnivanja, funkcionisanja i finansiranja sigurnih kuća u FBiH, te unaprijediti institucionalni okvir za borbu protiv nasilja u porodici na svim nivoima; - Uvesti rodnu kvotu od 50% žena i muškaraca na kandidatskim listama, te poduzeti dodatne mjere koje se odnose na učešće manje zastupljenog spola (npr. kroz dodjeljivanje mandata sa kompenzacijskih listi); - Kroz Gender akcioni plan i godišnje operativne planove po GAP-u, provoditi mjere za uključivanje ravnopravnosti spolova u nastavne sadržaje; - Ujednačiti pravo na porodiljske naknade kroz poseban zakon i fond na nivou FBiH. Donijeti državni Akcioni plan za zaštitu djece i sprečavanje nasilja nad djecom putem informacijskokomunikacijskih tehnologija; - Harmonizirati krivično zakonodavstvo u skladu sa Konvencijom Vijeća Evrope o sprečavanju seksualnog nasilja nad djecom; - Donijeti zakone o hraniteljstvu u oba entiteta i Brčko distriktu; - Obezbijediti bezuslovni pristup zdravstvenoj zaštiti za djecu - Harmonizirati i obezbijediti redovnu isplatu socijalnih davanja i naknada za porodice sa djecom. Usvojiti nove strategije za izjednačavanje mogućnosti i unapređenje položaja osoba s invaliditetom, vodeći računa o nužnosti alokacije neophodnih sredstava za njihovu implementaciju, te jačanje sistema odgovornosti onih koji su zaduženi za implementaciju; - Obezbijediti potrebne uslove za puno i aktivno učešće osoba s invaliditetom u svim segmentima društvenih aktivnosti, uključujući i proces evropskih integracija, kako bi se osigurala implementacija prava garantovanih Konvencijom o pravima osoba s invaliditetom; - Uskladiti zakonske propise sa odredbama Konvencije kod obezbjeđivanja podrške u donošenju odluka za osobe sa intelektualnim i mentalnim invaliditetom. Usvojiti prijedlog izmjena i dopuna Zakona o zabrani diskriminacije BiH; - Uspostaviti praksu godišnjeg izvještavanja o pojavnim oblicima diskriminacije sa prijedlogom mjera za uklanjanje i sprečavanje trendova diskriminacije; - Izraditi i usvojiti Strategiju za suzbijanje diskriminacije u BiH. Izmijeniti krivične zakone FBiH, Republike Srpske i Brčko Distrikta tako da se prošire osnove na kojima je zabranjeno izazivati mržnju, netrpeljivost i razdor, u skladu sa osnovama prepoznatim kroz regulaciju krivičnih djela počinjenih iz mržnje; - Uključiti obavezno obrazovanje o krivičnim djelima počinjenim iz mržnje u nastavne planove policijskih akademija Republike Srpske i Federacije BiH, te u stalne i specijalističke programe obuke policajaca/ki, tužitelja/ki i sudija/sutkinja; - Izraditi protokol kojim će se jasno propisati saradnja policije i pravosudnih organa u procesuiranju slučajeva krivičnih djela počinjenih iz mržnje s ciljem njihovog brzog i efikasnog rasvjetljavanja. Izraditi, usvojiti i provoditi višegodišnji Akcioni plan za ravnopravnost LGBTI osoba s ciljem suzbijanja predrasuda, diskriminacije i nasilja na osnovu seksualne orijentacije, rodnog identiteta i spolnih karakteristika; - Usvojiti i provoditi zakone Republike Srpske, Federacije BiH i Brčko Distrikta kojima bi se zakonski priznale istospolne zajednice; - Usvojiti i provoditi zakone Republike Srpske, Federacije BiH i Brčko Distrikta kojima bi se zakonski uredili svi pravni i medicinski aspekti promjene spola; Osigurati zakonski okvir na državnom nivou kojim se uređuje pitanje naziva i upotrebe službenih jezika; - Uskladiti Sporazum o posebnim potrebama djece povratnika u pristupu obrazovanju sa propisima na državnom i entitetskom nivou; - Izvršiti reviziju instrukcija nadležnim policijskim organima u vezi sa primjenom Zakona o prebivalištu i boravištu s ciljem adekvatne primjene propisa za raseljena lica i povratnike/ce; - Osigurati standarde minimalne zastupljenosti građana/ ki iz reda konstitutivnih naroda i Ostalih pri zapošljavanju u javnim službama; Hitno pristupiti izradi nove strategije za rješavanje problema Roma/Romkinja, koja će biti usklađena sa Platformom Evropske unije, uz obuhvatanje svih oblasti u kojima Romi ne ostvaruju svoja prava; - Usvojiti zasebne akcione planove za pojedinačne oblasti, posebno za zdravlje, stanovanje, zapošljavanje i obrazovanje Roma/ Romkinja, te primijeniti intersektorski pristup u realizaciji; - Obezbijediti finansijska sredstva za realizaciju strategije i akcionih planova; - Ojačati kapacitete Odbora za Rome/Romkinje pri Vijeću ministara BiH kroz utvrđivanje preciznih kriterija za izbor članova/ ica Odbora; - Ozvaničiti i obilježavati datume od značaja za Rome/Romkinje; - Pri rješavanju romskih pitanja i radu na romskim akcionim planovima neophodno je osnaživati i uključivati predstavnice i predstavnike romske zajednice u BiH. Usvojiti legislativu kojom će se osigurati transparetnost medijskog vlasništva i finansiranja medija iz javnih budžeta; - Harmonizirati zakone o javnim servisima sa krovnim Zakonom o javnom RTV sistemu, te uspostaviti održiv model finansiranja javnih medija i depolitizovati proces izbora i imenovanja upravnih odbora, programskih savjeta i direktora/ica javnih servisa; Osigurati efikasniju zaštitu sigurnosti novinara/ki kroz dopune krivičnih zakona i zakona o krivičnom postupku na svim nivoima vlasti u BiH; Spriječiti političke uticaje na rad Regulatorne agencije za komunikacije radi efikasnije regulacije tržišta elektronskih medija i poštovanja profesionalnih standarda novinarstva. Predmeti kategorije A, obrađeni na Međunarodnom krivičnom sudu za bivšu Jugoslaviju, trebaju postati prioritet da bi se preostalo vrijeme za implementaciju državne strategije iskoristilo najefikasnije i najsvrsishodnije; - Usvojiti zakon o žrtvama torture u BiH; - Napraviti program reparacije kako bi se umanjile posljedice pretrpljenih trauma žrtava, te kompenzirala njihova materijalna i nematerijalna šteta i izvršio povrat imovine. Na osnovu analize primjene odredaba novih zakona o radu do kraja 2016. godine izmijeniti i dopuniti članove koji nisu dovoljno razjašnjeni, ili postoje problemi u primjeni, te pojačati inspekcijski nadzor nad primjenom novih zakonskih rješenja; - Uskladiti zakonska rješenja iz oblasti socijalne i zdravstvene zaštite sa novim rješenjima u vezi s pravom na porodiljsko odsustvo za očeve; - Izjednačiti naknade u oblasti socijalne zaštite da bi se svim građanima/kama osigurao jednak tretman i ista prava u oblasti rada, socijalne i zdravstvene zaštite; - Ukinuti odredbe kojima se zdravstveno osiguranje nezaposlenih osoba uslovljava rokovima prijavljivanja na evidenciju zavoda za zapošljavanje; - Usvojiti okvirni Zakon o liječenju neplodnosti biomedicinski potpomognutom oplodnjom na državnom nivou.

Alternatywne metody głosowania na przykładzie głosowania korespondencyjnego oraz e-voting w Szwajcarii

Author(s): Magdalena Musial-Karg / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 20/A/2016

To many observers Swiss democracy seems to be a complicated and difficult to understand labyrinth of political institutions, that directly involve citizens in the political decision making process. Swiss electoral law enables voters to participate in elections and referendums using one of three instruments: traditional voting (in polling stations), postal voting or electronic voting. The main thesis of this paper is the predication of how alternative methods of voting, postal voting and e-voting, change the way of functioning of Switzerland’s direct democracy. Analysis of Switzerland’s experiences in the use of alternative voting methods in decision-making at federal, cantonal and local levels of the state, seems to be a very interesting project and one worthy of scientific exploration.

Alternatywne metody rozstrzygania sporów konsumenckich w prawie Unii Europejskiej

Author(s): Agnieszka Kubiak-Cyrul / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 1/2013

Consumer protection legislation at EU and Member States’ level has been significantly strengthened in the past decades. However, existing system of court proceedings discourage consumers from trying to seek redress when their rights are violated. This is because consumers believe court proceedings to be expensive, time-consuming and their outcome uncertain. The new legislative initiative in the EU will reform the system of alternative resolution of consumer disputes. The basic role plays ADR directive which will ensure that consumers can turn to quality alternative dispute resolution entities for all kinds of contractual disputes that they have with traders. The ODR Regulation will set up an EU-wide online platform for handling consumer disputes that arise from online transactions. The platform will link all the national alternative dispute resolution entities and facilitate consumer access to their on line services. Member States have 24 months to implement the directive, while the ODR platform will be operational at the end of 2015.

Amanda Bittner and Royce Koop (eds.), Parties, elections and the future of Canadian politics, University of British Columbia Press, Vancouver 2013 (ss. 342)

Author(s): Stanislaw Bozyk / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 20/A/2016

Amicus curiae institutas užsienio šalių ir tarptautinėje teisėje: (dis)kvalifikuojantys požymiai ir gretimi institutai

Author(s): Petras Ragauskas / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 72/2011

This article deals with some aspects of amicus curiae, phenomenon which is almost unknown in Lithuanian positive law and its jurisprudence. The article presents the spread of this legal phenomenon (at this stage mostly indirectly by giving examples on its various aspects) and its basic elements in legal systems of different foreign countries as well as in international law. A variety of different amicus players is being discussed alongside with analysis on their differences from parties to the dispute, interveners, experts and witnesses. A characterisation of interaction between amicus curiae and lobbying is provided as well. It is possible to analyse the amicus curiae in different aspects: social, legal, political, cultural, etc. But it seems that one of the most advantageous possible manifestations of amicus curiae in Lithuania could be connected with enhanced openness of the Court. This instrument seems to be quite universal, simple, cheap and effective in the sense of enhanced democracy and civil society. Unfortunately the institution of amicus curiae and possibilities to use it hasn‘t been broadly discussed in Lithuanian yet. Thus the article aims to give some comparative and analytical presuppositions as much as to make some kind of introduction for such a discussion in Lithuania. At the sight of various jurisdictions it is obvious that the concept of amicus curiae is manifold and its certain elements may have significant differences. On the other hand it should be remarked that legal regulation of this form of involvement to the judicial process is rather poor or doesn’t exist at all (depending on certain jurisdiction). It looks like a paradox to see that even in United States of America – legal system where amicus curiae is supposed to be most widely used – this legal phenomenon has no strict and clear regulation, neither in the sense of statutes, nor in the sense of common law; to make it clear even today courts do demonstrate contrary positions in some important aspects. However the lack of regulation and the interrelated lack of legal clarity (at least in some aspects) of the legal institute of amicus curiae should not be seen as a shortcoming only, for it also creates wider possibilities for versatility in gap filling and problem solving during the judicial process. One of the most important questions – whether amicus curiae is a selfless servant to the Court with no interest of his own and with the only task to preserve the honour of the Court, or whether he is an actor which is able (or even more – designed) to defend some specific interests. The usual answer in contemporary legal systems is that such an interest at least should not disqualify a person as amicus curiae. However there are quite divergent versions concerning the limits and acceptable character of allowed interest (including version that person which could not demonstrate sufficient interest should not be accepted as amicus curiae, for example, if the interest is merely academic). There are rules of limitation in different legal systems which prescribes that amicus is not a party to a lawsuit and differs from an intervener, that he is not an expert or witness. But the reality doesn’t allow making a strict disjunction between amicus curiae and these actors. There are situations when these positions intertwine. Such distinction is even less likely to be indispensable when you see how often amicus is invoked to fill the gaps or solve some difficult situations (to defend the interests of third party which do not or even could not come and stand before the Court; to represent the actual interests of defendant which refuses to have a lawyer etc.). The role of amicus curiae could be performed by very different actors. These actors may vary from state or municipal institutions to individuals, from intergovernmental organisations to universities, from religious organisations to trade unions, etc. Nevertheless the practice boldly indicates that amicus curiae have strong ties with representation and advocacy of public interests. It is very common to find that those public institutions ex officio empowered to represent public interests (like Solicitor General) are at the first rank of amici which plays the most important role. Attributed rights or at least actual role of private amici seems to be a far lesser one. Also it is important for the democratic process that amicus curiae has a potential to channel relevant information (including political information) to the Court in order to empower this branch to weight it and to foresee the wider impact of its decisions. Few years ago the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania has “pushed” our legal system towards the doctrine of stare decisis (which is essential to the precedent law system) the perspective of such channelling could be notably useful and advantageous.

Amnesty for North Kosovo: Peace at Expense of Justice? Politically, Legally and Morally Justifying the Amnesty Law for North Kosovo

Author(s): Sean Parramore / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2013

The paper examines the question under what conditions amnesty laws can be justified for the sake of peace, and what those conditions may imply in the case of Kosovo’s amnesty law directed at its northern break-away region. It appraises the moral justifications of amnesty laws, their international legal justification, and the political context and logic behind them so to test the hypothesis that peace at the expense of justice can be justified, in this case through Serbia’s and Kosovo’s integration into the European Union (EU). Amnesty laws are found to be balancing acts between political expediency, moral considerations and the international legal order. In North Kosovo’s case, the law risks undermining an already weak rule of law, exacerbating preexisting corruption, while failing to resolve tensions between its questionable political expediency, dubious morality and doubtful international legality.

AMNISTIE ȘI PEDEAPSĂ ÎN CONTEXTUL JUSTIȚIEI TRANZITORII ȘI A RECONCILIERII UNEI SOCIETĂȚI POST-CONFLICT

Author(s): Vitalie Gamurari / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 1/2019

Amnesty and punishment are two important institutions of transitional justice. Discussions on the application of one or the other are quite common, each part having its arguments. One thing we can state for sure – prioritizing only an institution, it will certainly lead to transitional justice promoted by touching objects – a company post-conflict reconciliation is impossible, this process is a complex one, in which an important role belongs non-legal rules. However, transitional justice trying to find that common ground, that would satisfy society in integrum.

An Argument from Comparative Law in the Jurisprudence of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal

Author(s): Ada Paprocka / Language(s): English / Issue: 8/2018

The use of references to foreign law and jurisprudence by the constitutional courts around the world currently gains more and more attention from scholars. The admissibility and usefulness of conducting such a horizontal dialogue between various jurisdictions raises controversies in other countries, but not in Poland, where no significant academic discussion on the legal basis and justification for using comparative arguments in constitutional jurisprudence has been conducted. The reasons for this lack of controversy seem to lie in the roots of the 1997 Constitution, and the way in which the Polish legal system is constructed. The Polish Constitutional Tribunal is quite prone to using comparative references in its reasoning. However, it rarely clearly indicated their role or significance for the resolution of the case before it. The analysis of the case-law of the Tribunal indicates that references to foreign law concern constitutional provisions, legislation, and the judgments of other constitutional courts. The purpose of the references stresses the universality of particular constitutional norms and deciphering their meaning, as well as gathering data significant for the assessment of the proportionality of a national law, as well as at drawing inspiration from the decisions taken by foreign courts. However, the persuasive use of a comparative argument demands that the methodological problems which can be noticed in the case-law should be addressed. They involve in particular: the need to justify the choice of comparative material that is analysed, the fragmented nature of the analysis, and the lack of a clear indication what role these kind of arguments have in constitutional argumentation.

An Impact of Business Cycles on Revenues and Expenditures of Communes in Poland

Author(s): Marcin Luszczyk,Agnieszka Janeta / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2018

One of the basic functions of the state is mitigation of fluctuations in the business cycle. Increased activity in the period of economic slowdown should be demonstrated both by the state budget and local government units. However, the effectiveness of state intervention depends on the condition of the public finance sector. Therefore, in conditions of economic recovery, the state not only should balance its budget, but also should try to pay off at least part of the previously incurred liabilities. According to the authors, the permanent lack of financial discipline of the state, in the near future, will contribute to the budgetary imbalance of communes and will cause serious disruptions in the functioning of local self-governments.

An International Wrongful Act of an International Organization on Terrorism: The UN Human Rights Council Resolution 40/1 for Sri Lanka

Author(s): Mehmet Sükrü Güzel / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2019

The UN Human Rights Council resolution 40/1 of 13 March 2019 should be defined as an international wrongful act of an international organization for giving impunity for the perpetrators of financing terrorism in Sri Lanka by not implementing the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy and not asking for an international criminal investigation in the operative clauses of its resolutions to achieve sustain peace

An Introduction to the Phenomenon of Piracy

Author(s): Ioana-Roxana Oltean / Language(s): English / Issue: 20/2018

The law of the sea is ever-changing and complex. An aspect that has been constant throughout the evolution of law is one of its contenders: piracy. In today’s context it takes various forms and States have taken different national and international stances against it. However, current affairs show that piracy remains a constant risk to commerce itself. With modern warfare means becoming accessible to private persons has come a need to internationally and uniformly regulate this phenomenon. This article aims to offer an overview of the international instruments governing piracy, address the current state of areas that have been affected, propose how risks in this matter should be viewed and present some solutions that have been beneficial in the practice of sea farers.